Fast Facts

Played Snoopy in a high-school production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and was also in the casts of Arsenic and Old Lace and Our Town.

Converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after enrolling at Brigham Young University.

At BYU, met actor Aaron Eckhart, who has appeared in a number of his films.

Worked in mental hospitals in New York and Utah while in graduate school.

Starred in the 1986 slasher comedy High School Spirits.

Early in his career, was asked by church leaders to no longer write about Mormon characters.

Shot 1997's In the Company of Men in less than two weeks and for about $25,000, which was invested by two friends and was the money they received as part of an insurance settlement from an auto accident.

Had fictional pieces published in the New Yorker, the New York Times, Harper's Bazaar and Playboy; a collection of short stories was published in 2004.

The LaBute New Theater Festival for professional playwrights and high-school students is held by the St. Louis Actors' Studio in Missouri.

Relationships

Marian LaBute — Mother

Richard LaBute — Father

Lily LaBute — Daughter

Spencer LaBute — Son

Lisa Gore — Wife

College

Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States (BA in Theater, 1985); University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States (MA); New York University, New York, New York, United States (MFA in Dramatic Writing)